Lyna Mohamad
The demand for healthier food has increased throughout the years with the public becoming more aware on the importance of eating healthily.
One initiative to increase the availability of healthier products in the market is the Healthy Dining Programme implemented by the Health Promotion Centre (HPC), Ministry of Health (MoH).
The programme kicked off with the launch at Coco Café as one of the 12 food outlets participating in it. MoH Senior Medical Officer Dr Siti Rosemawati binti Haji Mohd Yusof, officers and guests also participated.
The programme is aimed at creating a local market environment conducive for supporting healthier eating choices and to foster the culture and practice of healthier food choices amongst the food outlet owners, managers and customers.
The participating food outlets will provide customers with healthier food options and enable them to choose this option from the menu.
The HPC will assess the food outlet’s eligibility. Participating food outlets will have to fulfil the healthy dining guideline where the restaurants, cafes or eateries have to serve at least 25 per cent of healthier choice menu.
The menus will be analysed by trained professionals from HPC. The participating food outlet will provide customers with healthier food options in moderate portion sizes, cater to customers’ request for less sugar, less salt or less oil.
Food and beverages that are considered as healthier will be labelled with a Healthier Choice Logo on the menu and to ensure compliance of the participating food outlets, there will be random inspections and monitoring by HPC officers.
